Hello everyone,
Last weekend, Local Guides from Pakistan were honored to receive an invitation from Thar Boys Student Hostelin Karachi. It was a spontaneous invite, and we had just a day’s notice. Despite that, we tried to share it with the community in Karachi. However, only @DrFoodieOfficial (Rizwan Shah) could make it. He graciously spared his time, picked me up, and attended the event as the sole companion of mine.
@GulabParmar , a wonderful person, Local Guide and a prominent name in Karachi’s Hindu Community, extended the invitation. He takes care of many students from theThar Desert region studying at various universities in Karachi.
We arrived on time, and the event had started just 10 minutes before we got there. It was the 6th anniversary celebration of the hostel, which has housed hundreds of students from Thar in the past 6 years. Many former students were present to meet the new ones.
Upon our arrival, the students started performing Garba and Dandiya, which are famous music and dance forms from Gujarat, India. It’s a delightful tradition among the students, all hailing from Thar Desert, which shares its border with Gujarat, India. What’s interesting is that all the students were joyfully participating in these traditional dances and songs.
After the fantastic student performances, various speakers took the stage to appreciate the excellent work of Thar students in Karachi, particularly acknowledging __Ghulab Rai’__s remarkable efforts in bringing people together.
During my turn, I delivered my speech in Memoni language, a blend of Sindhi, Gujarati, and Katchi that everyone present could understand. I expressed gratitude to the organizers and those who invited us.
I shared insights on how people can support small businesses in their villages or cities through Google Maps, providing tips alongside Rizwan Shah, who was with me. We also highlighted the vast potential for tourism in the great Thar Desert, emphasizing the importance of digital promotion through platforms like Google Maps and Local Guides Connect.
We demonstrated how to add a location or business to Google Maps using our phones. We highlighted the Jain Temples in the Thar Desert, a significant religious attraction with immense potential for religious tourism in Tharparkar.
Additionally, we encouraged everyone to engage in great activities, such as sharing about the wonderful places in their colorful region on Connect.
Later, Rizwan answered many questions about freelancing and running a YouTube channel, drawing from his extensive experience with thousands of subscribers.
Following our session, other speakers and poets entertained the audience with songs, poetry, and even some dancing.
The event concluded with a tasty dinner featuring Chicken Biryani and tea, which everyone enjoyed.
And, of course, we captured numerous selfies and group photos, creating wonderful memories for all, especially those of us who cherished this special honor as Local Guides.
